Tire bead lubricating system

Abstract

A tire lubricating system including an applicator assembly having plural applicators movable along a vertical axis to enter the bore of a tire and extensible in a radial direction to contact the beads of the tire and apply a lubricant thereto.

1. A lubricating system for applying lubricant to a bead area of a tire, the lubricating system comprising an applicator assembly being axially moveable to enter a bore of the tire, said applicator assembly having a hub carrying plural applicators adapted to carry the lubricant, said applicators being radially movable to contact the bead area of the tire, said applicator assembly including a drive assembly having a pivot shaft, a rotating link mounted on said pivot shaft, and a control link connected to said rotating link; and wherein each applicator is supported on an arm pivotally attached to said hub and connected to said rotating link by said control link, wherein selected rotation of said rotating link moves said applicators radially. 
     
     
       2. The applicator assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said hub defines recesses for receiving said applicators in a collapsed position. 
     
     
       3. The lubricating system of  claim 2 , wherein said applicators are rotatable about a vertical axis and wherein said recesses are sized to permit rotation of said applicators about said axis in said collapsed position. 
     
     
       4. The lubricating system of  claim 1 , wherein said applicator assembly includes three applicators. 
     
     
       5. The lubricating system of  claim 4 , wherein said applicators include a lube roll rotatable about a vertical axis. 
     
     
       6. The lubricating system of  claim 5 , wherein said lube roll has a length adapted to simultaneously contact both bead areas of said tire. 
     
     
       7. A lubricating system for applying lubricant to a bead area of a tire, the lubricating system comprising an applicator being axially moveable to enter a bore of the tire, said applicator assembly having a hub carrying plural applicators adapted to carry the lubricant, said applicators being radially movable to contact the bead area of the tire, and a container adapted to receive said applicator assembly, wherein said container includes at least one nozzle adapted to spray lubricating fluid onto said applicator, said applicator assembly being mounted on an actuator adapted to move said applicator assembly from within said container to a position within the bore of the tire. 
     
     
       8. A lubricating system for applying lubricant to bead areas of a tire used in connection with a conveyor used to transport the tire, the lubricating system comprising: a container; and an applicator assembly receivable in said container and axially movable from said container to enter a bore of the tire, said applicator assembly including a hub supporting plural applicators, said applicators being radially movable on said hub and a drive assembly adapted to selectively move said applicators radially to contact the bead areas of the tire. 
     
     
       9. The lubricating system of  claim 8 , wherein said container is located below the conveyor, and said applicator assembly includes a column supporting said hub, said column extending through a base of said container and attached to a column actuator adapted to move said applicator assembly along the axis of said column. 
     
     
       10. The lubricating system of  claim 9  further comprises an alignment actuator engageable with said container and adapted to selectively move said container relative to the conveyor; and wherein said column actuator is supported on said container and moveable therewith. 
     
     
       11. The lubricating system of  claim 8  further comprising an engagement assembly engageable with said drive assembly, wherein said engagement assembly includes a control shaft and a control actuator adapted to selectively rotate said control shaft, said control shaft being selectively coupled to a pivot shaft in said drive assembly, said drive assembly further includes a rotating link mounted on said pivot shaft and attached to each applicators by a control link, wherein said applicators are pivotally connected to said hub by an arm, wherein rotation of said pivot shaft radially moves said applicators. 
     
     
       12. The lubricating system of  claim 11  further comprising a support frame supporting said engagement assembly, wherein said engagement assembly is slidably mounted on said support frame and laterally moveable; and
 an alignment actuator engageable with said engagement assembly to selectively move said engagement assembly laterally relative to said drive assembly. 
 
     
     
       13. The lubricating system of  claim 8 , wherein said container includes nozzles adapted to spray the lubricant on to said applicators. 
     
     
       14. A lubricating system for applying lubricant to a bead area of a tire as it is carried on a conveyor, the lubricating system comprising:
 a container adapted to collect the lubricant, said container being supported beneath an opening in the conveyor; 
 an applicator assembly receivable in said container said applicator assembly including
 a hub defining a center axis, 
 an actuator connected to said hub and operable to move said applicator assembly along said center axis to enter ha bore of the tire, 
 plural arms pivotally attached to said hub, 
 an applicator adapted to carry the lubricant supported on each of said arms, and 
 a drive assembly, said drive assembly including:
 a pivot shaft rotatably supported on said hub, 
 a rotating link mounted on said pivot shaft and rotatable therewith, and 
 plural control links connecting said rotating link to each arm; and 
 
 
 an engagement assembly selectively coupled to said drive assembly and adapted to selectively rotate said pivot shaft to move said applicators radially into contact with the bead area of the tire to deposit lubricant carried on said applicators on the bead area. 
 
     
     
       15. The lubricating system of  claim 14  further comprising a support frame, a bracket mounted on said support frame above the tire, said bracket being vertically moveable, wherein said engagement assembly is mounted on said bracket and includes a control shaft, a control link mounted on said control shaft adapted to couple said pivot shaft and a control actuator attached to said control link and operable to rotate said control shaft; wherein said support frame supports an engaging actuator, said engaging actuator being operable to selectively lower said bracket to couple said control shaft and said pivot shaft.